August 29 Daily Devotional

28 Jul August 29 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

STORED UP FOR SAFE KEEPING

Colossians 3:3-4 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Things that are precious to you, you do not simply haphazardly lay them on the corner of the kitchen counter or on the coffee table.  You keep them in a special place that is safe and secure. You find a place where thieves cannot sneak in and steal them.

There is nothing more precious than your faith in the Triune God.  This you have because, as you read in the previous devotion, you have “died with Christ.”  As a result of your death in Him you now have a life that is “hidden with Christ in God.”  The Greek word for hidden means “stored up for safe keeping.” The verb here is in the perfect tense which notes that your life in Christ is already secured by His death and resurrection. You continually live with this until, Paul says, “you will live with Him in glory.” (Deterding, Commentary on Colossians.)

Jesus is the key to the assurance your eternal life is in a secure place where nothing can take it away from you.  This is what St. Paul states in Romans 8:38-39 in regard to your resurrection on the last day: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us (you) from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (y)our Lord.”

Your eternal life is inseparably connected, by God’s grace through the faith He has given you in Jesus, to Him.  He is your life!  He said, “I am the branch, you are the vine.  Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)  As a branch or leaf on a grapevine immediately dries up and turns to dust so you, separated from Jesus would have no eternal life.

By God’s grace He has given you faith that connects you to Jesus, “who is your life . . . when He comes on the last day you will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, through my baptism and the power of the Gospel work faith in my heart to keep me connect to Jesus.  In His holy name.  Amen.

My Hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:  On Christ the Solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;

In ev’ry high and stormy gale  My anchor holds within the veil.  Refrain:

His oath, His covenant and blood support me in the raging flood;

When ev’ry earthly prop gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.  Refrain:

When He shall come with trumpet sound Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone, Redeemed to stand before His throne!

Refrain: